Certainly the most anticipated and long-awaiting turbo-prop passenger aircraft release for 2013, the Majestic Software Dash8 Q400 package has been years in the making, and provides the virtual pilot the best-ever and most realistic Dash8 Q400 experience in Flight Simulator history. Not since FS2004 have we had a decent Dash8 aircraft add-on that checks all of the boxes...

This superlative rendition of the Dash 8 Q400 comes with a host of truly innovative features and is the first aircraft to feature a Flight Dynamics engine which is completely independent of the FSX FDE!

Fly the Q400 in 19 high resolution liveries with weather radar, TCAS, dual FMS and custom animations and lighting - this is quite simply the best Dash 8 you can fly!

The Majestic Software Dash 8 Q-400 for FSX is a highly realistic rendition of Bombardier's twin-engined turboprop regional airliner. Since entering service in 2000, over 450 Q-400 aircraft have been delivered to a diverse range of airlines around the world. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW150A turboprop engines, the Q-400 can carry 78 passengers up to 1,500 miles at 360 knots, not much slower than its regional jet competitors.

This ground-breaking simulation features a flight dynamics engine that operates independently from FSX, providing you with incredibly realistic performance and behaviour, as well as accurate icing effects.

A fully-functioning virtual cockpit is included and features FMS, weather radar, TCAS, glass cockpit displays and an authentic autopilot system, all closely matching the real aircraft.

19 high-resolution airline liveries are included, representing operators from every corner of the globe. Customizable automated cabin announcements and an independently operating 3D sound system make this the most immersive airliner to date!

FEATURES

Custom flight dynamics engine
The Majestic Software Dash 8 is currently the only aircraft available which includes a built-in Flight Dynamics Engine which is completely independent from the default FSX FDE. This results in much more realistic aerodynamics behaviour of the aircraft, in particular the realistic wind simulation, enhanced propeller physics including propeller ‘discing’ and auto rotation, the effects of the propeller airstream on the wing lift and the icing effects on the propeller, wings and the flight surfaces.

Weather Radar The Weather Radar is capable of interpolating the weather returns based on the actual FSX weather using the FSX Weather Stations reports. The Weather Radar can work with both the FSX Real Weather and the Weather Environment add-ons capable of setting the per-station weather. The beam geometry is also simulated in order to depict the weather based on the aircraft altitude, antenna tilt and the altitude of the weather itself. There is ground clutter and weather shadow effects, and also a ground mapping mode simulation, capable of showing the surrounding terrain. The weather clutter in the ground mode is also simulated.

TCAS
The Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) simulates most of the ICAO-defined CASII functions and provides the traffic indication as well as the traffic and resolution advisories. The TCAS works with both the AI traffic and virtual ATC network traffic (Vatsim/IVAO).

FMS navigation, fuel management and basic performance
The dual Flight Management System simulates the Universal 1E FMS and is developed with a high degree of realism. The FMS system is capable of navigation in three dimensions (LNAV+VNAV), RNP-based navigation and Fuel and Performance Management. The up-to-date navigation database, provided by navigation data supplier Navigraph (subject to additional charges - see the website for details) can be used to obtain the latest procedures. In addition, there are custom provisions to control the availability of the ground services and the flow of passenger announcements.

Passenger announcementsIn addition to the default announcements included with the aircraft, the scripting-based announcement system allows for the building of custom announcements both per livery or globally. The announcement script can play the user defined sound files based on the current condition of the aircraft systems and control states, thus providing truly customised and realistic announcement flows specific to particular airlines.

Saving and loading system states
When saving or loading a flight in FSX the systems will also store or retrieve their respective states.

Custom sound system
The Majestic Software Dash 8 includes its own sound system, independent of the FSX sound system. The sound system is Direct-X based and uses custom DSP (Digital Signal Processing) effects to simulate the propeller sounds correctly. The system is also 3D-enabled for both external and internal sounds, including the switches and controls sounds as well as voice announcements.

Add-on control panel
The Add-on Control Panel Application (CPAN) allows you to visually modify the most important parameters of the aircraft, as well as verify and apply the custom Weight and Balance configurations.

FMS FPL WINDS (available from v1.1)
The FMS FPL winds functionality is currently in development, and will be provided in the version 1.1 update. It will allow the FMS to account for the en-route winds, thus increasing the fuel and time prediction accuracy.

Changes since version 1.019 version PILOT edition of the Q400

INSTRUMENTS

Shared Cockpit: Debouncing is improved on the LSK8 key of the ARCDU (to switch the transponder mode) (PRO)

FMS graphic artifacts fixes

Alternate gear release: inhibit switch is not required to open the nose gear doors by pulling the release handle

ND: Improved overlay display logic

ELEVATOR ASYMMETRY incorrect light fixed

EFIS: CRS1/CRS2 tooltip course will be from the NAV, if FMS is selected